When New Line Cinema released A Nightmare On Elm Street in 1984, no one could have guessed how transcendent the character of child stalker Freddy Krueger would become. Robert Englund's take on Freddy became a horror icon; equal parts bogeyman, Albert Fish, and eventually, Bob Hope (to the dismay of many). Englund portrayed Krueger with a lascivious glee, clearly enjoying himself as much or more than the audience in what became a tour de force whirlwind role for the iconic horror actor.
Robert Englund and the Original Elm Street
Englund played Freddy through eight cinematic entries of the NOES horror franchise, along the way becoming as identified with his character as Christopher Reeve's Superman or Bela Lugosi in Dracula. After director Wes Craven's first Nightmare film delighted and terrified audiences with it's exploration of ultra vivid dreams and the introduction of a new revered monster in Fred Krueger, Englund became a star and the Freddy character became the subject of many offshoots of the film, including comic books, toys, posters, books, even a TV series. New Line went back to the well seven more times for the big screen, including a Craven reprise in New Nightmare and the most recent entry into the franchise, the financially successful Freddy Vs. Jason.
Understandably then, many in the horror community assumed that if Freddy was going to get another movie, Robert Englund would be back under the makeup. Early reports that Billy Bob Thornton was being considered for the role of the new Freddy puzzled some fans and angered many others. Petitions in favor of Englund's inclusion in the new film circulated widely over the internet as diehard horror and Englund fans expressed their dismay over the new direction of this beloved franchise.
Jackie Earle Haley and the New Nightmare
Still, rumors persisted that Platinum Dunes, the company run by Michael Bay (responsible for the recent "re-imaginings" of both the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th franchises), would be going in a different direction with the new Nightmare reboot.
Seems now that the rumors are true. Jackie Earle Haley, who wowed audiences earlier this year as the brown hat wearing superhero Rorschach in The Watchmen, is reportedly in line to play Freddy Krueger in the next NOES film.
Haley, who was a child star in the original Bad News Bears, was also nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 2006's Little Children. He certainly has the pedigree to play Freddy. And apparently the look, at least according to Platinum Dunes.
The new film is rumored to begin shooting as early as next month for a 2010 theatrical release.
Freddy's back! Time will tell if fans find that to be a good thing.
Paul Counelis - I have written for many years on many subjects, my favorite being the horror culture genre. Some of the publications that I've written ...
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